Joao Mario

Joao Mario Naval da Costa Eduardo (born 19 January 1993), known as Joao Mario (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈɐ̃w ˈmaɾju, ˈʒwɐ̃w -]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Benfica.

He started out at Sporting CP in whose youth system he developed, being loaned to Vitoria de Setubal in 2014 and subsequently returning to be an important part of the squads that won major trophies, including the 2015 Taca de Portugal. In 2016 he joined Inter Milan, having loan spells at West Ham United and Lokomotiv Moscow prior to rejoining Sporting, also on loan, in 2020.

Joao Mario made his senior debut for Portugal in 2014. He was named in the squads for the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup tournaments, winning the former.

Club Career

Sporting CP

Following a brief youth spell with local FC Porto in his hometown, where he was deployed as a central defender, Joao Mario moved to Sporting CP in 2004 at the age of 11, going on to complete his development with the Lisbon club. On 14 December 2011 he was called for a UEFA Europa League group stage game away against S.S. Lazio, alongside youth graduates Betinho, Ricardo Esgaio, Tiago Ilori and Joao Carlos, as the Lions had already secured the first place in its group: he entered the pitch in the 76th minute of the 0–2 away loss, after replacing Oguchi Onyewu.

Joao Mario's first full season as a senior was 2012–13, as he appeared in 31 games (30 as a starter) for Sporting CP B in the Segunda Liga, with the team finishing in fourth position. On 8 January 2014 he was loaned to Vitoria F.C. for the remainder of the campaign, starting in all but one Primeira Liga matches he appeared in and being voted the league's best young player for January and February.

On 31 May 2015, again with Sporting' main squad, Joao Mario started in the final of the Taca de Portugal against S.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Жуан Мариу (russian)